Ken Rolston

Retired baseball player Curt Schilling is living the dream that every gamer has at one time or another. He’s putting together a video game, his game. Getting together with fantasy luminary R.A. Salvatore, comic book legend Todd McFarlane and famed game designer Ken Rolston, Schilling and his 38 Studios is embarking on an ambitious project.

With all that expertise and star power, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has the pedigree to be a hit. From my first impressions of the role-playing game at GDC, I thought it was a more action-oriented Fable. The visuals and combat exuded that vibe.

But first looks, especially when they’re hands off, can be deceiving, and this week, after sitting down with Reckoning for a few hours, that perspective flipped. Rolston’s influence weighs heavy on the high-fantasy world that Salvatore created. That means it more resembles the Elder Scrolls series. Players have three basic destinies (They act as classes.) — sorcery, might and finesse. They correspond to a mage, warrior and thief.